Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-15

which extended into section Z were so ex- l.
tended, not on account of any belief that |
there was mineral in seven, but to secure !
the timber thereon, large quantities or
which were used for timbering the mines.
1t was customary in locating mines to Sc
cure land sufficient for dumping purposes
and to secure timber sufficient for the
working of the mine. There was no mining
done on section within my recollection,
except the sinking of one or two shafts and
little washing along the south branch of
Steep Hollow creek, since 1858. | never at
any time expressed belief that there was
paying gravel channel underlying section
| Z. Some say they believe in such theory
but never could see any grounds for such
belief All the indications observable
convince me to the contrary opinion.
While was working in the Golden Bull
| mine, never approached within 1000 feet
of section z. We ran in the direction of
| so long as the gravel paid us to do so.
While owned in the Golden Bull we cut
| no timber on section Z that on section IL
| was nearer and more convenient and was
cut off first. Since | sold out of the mine.
much of the timber has been cut off Z, that
on u being exhausted. The owner of the
| Golden Bull, when he abandoned that part
of the tunnel which ends Just inside the
| lines of I, where the air-shaft was raised,
| told me that part of the mine was very
poor-did not pay expenses.
| The next witness was Alonzo Cooper, a
resident of Clipper Gap, Placer county.
He followed mining for many years, and
continuously from 1858 to 1868 He mined
as early as 1854. He located a Liberty Hill
in 1858, where he followed mining con-
tinuously for ten years. In the fall of 1867
he bought an interest in the Swamp Angel
mine, and moved to Lowell Hill. The first
tunnel in the Swamp Angel had been run
into the gravel before he commenced work
ing there. The distance from The mouth of
the tunnel to section was from 1000 to l,
500 feet. He knew of no mines of any value
on section z, and did not believe there were
any. Had visited the Mammoth Spring
tunnel. He saw the gravel upon the dump,
bit said he did not consider it pay gravel.
His ideas of channel coming from Rem
ington Hill, through Lowell Hill, extend
ing down to Liberty Hill, passing to the
westward of section 7, was corroborative of
the testimony of witnesses Uren and Hill.
The pay gravel in his opinion lies west of
the east rim rock, and that carries it to the
westward OF section Z.
On cross examination the witness said
he had no recollection of saying to anyone
in 1868 that he believed there was a pay
channel extending through section Z. If
he did express such an opinion, or hold
such a belief at that time, it was long since
knocked out by the developments of the
mines, which are conclusive evidence of
the falsity of any such opinion.
+. L. Mcguire, an aged and very feeble
man, who resides two miles below Lowell
Hill, was the next witness. He owns i
little mountain ranch, is pioneer of that
section, having come to California in 1S49.
His testimony to the early mining on Steep
6otn hon 20 81
when the a-gonauts stuck their first
pick into the gravel deposits
of Nevada county While Steep
Hollow creek was rich in gold south CT the
junction of the North and South Fork,
very little gold was found above that point,
especially on those portions inside of Sec
ton Z. Very little mining was done there
after 1857. He said the Mammoth Spring
mine was first worked in 1856 abandoned
in 1858, stood still several years, was again
relocated and again abandoned The last
owners held it for a few years, doing the
necessary work upon it to hold it. as he be-
lieved, on mere speculation. The mines
IN that locality were many, many years ago
exhausted. The miners worked as long as
they could make anything, and when they
could no longer make living by operating
them they folded their blankets and
tramped to other places where they could
90 better. The best evidence to his mind,
OF the worthlessness of "a section for mining
purposes was its entire abandonment by
miners. From what he knew OF section Z.
after residence in that locality of thirty
eight years, he was of the opinion that it
could not be classed as mineral, nor at no
time since 1856 could it be so classed The
decrepitude of this aged witness, his ina
bility to see, his evident desire to testify
truthfully, excited not only the sympathy
and admiration of the attorneys On both
sides, but of all those present.
At 4:3O P. M the Court adjourned until
10 A. NJ. tomorrow. 1t is not likely the
taking of testimony in this case will be
completed before Monday next.